3 minute read

An upset of upsets in the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot

By Saturday the weather was nearer to normal although still warm as the horses came out for the G1 feature.  Not sure if Mishriff missed the start or just was sluggish out of the gate but he was the last out and although he caught up with the field it didn't seem to be with a lot of conviction and he ended up finishing third.

The 3yos – favourite Westover and fancied  Emily Upjohn - were no match for the older horses on this occasion.  Broome swept to the lead early on and was surprisingly joined by Pyledriver, who took over on the turn and went soaring off into the sunset and by the time the others realised what was happening it was too late.  Torquator Tasso put in a great finish (probably the fastest horse over the last 400m) with Mishriff tagging along for third just ahead of the tiring Broome.

Favourite Westover was a big disappointment – he had a hood on up to the gates and was a lather of sweat when he got there and the jockey said after the race he ran too freely.  He is a good horse but needs to learn to settle in races of this trip and category.  The filly was never in our top three.

Earlier on the day Lezoo had no problems in the Princess Margaret finishing a length in front of Kinto.  Breege was third at 12/1 and our very rough roughie Cuban Mistress was not disgraced in fifth.

No luck for the favourite Zanbaq in the Valiant Stakes with the race going to the well-travelled Jumbly showing her appreciation of a home start by finishing 2 ½ lengths in front of Oscula who in turn was 1 ¼ lengths in front of the German raider Novemba.